Being an artist means that you continue to view the world through an artist’s eyes. You’re always looking around you with an intention of expressing your views through whatever means with which you are most comfortable. For me, it’s capturing my views through quick sketches. These are not finished drawings or paintings, but quick translations of what catches my attention.
Many of these sketches end up as finished paintings. Most do not. They are just recordings of my thoughts and viewpoints. There is something about sketching which makes me look more closely. As opposed to photographs., which do not always. The sketches dig into my consciousness, impressing certain details that I would normally overlook with a quick photo.
I keep a quick sketch bag at the ready. Since my favorite tool is watercolor, paper, and pen, this is what I keep in my bag.
- A one gallon ziplock bag
- A small sketch book, probably for watercolor or at least pen and ink, sometimes precut watercolor postcard sizes
- A mechanical pencil
- A pen, usually a commercial fade-proof and waterproof ink, nothing fancy
- A plastic eraser
- A folding water container
- An old-fashioned metal PRANG watercolor box, filled with my good paints, only eight colors
- Two or three good brushes, small enough to fit in the color box
- A paper towel or cloth rag
- A bottle of water
- This is it.
This is light weight. Always packed. Ready to grab at an instance and get out of Dodge.
This past weekend I participated at a small local arts and music festival. I haven’t done art fairs for thirty years so it was a good opportunity to renew my experience. And to discover why I don’t really want to do it any more.
But it also afforded me a few hours to sketch the people and entertainers at the festival. Fun to experience that. But also fun to know that I don’t have to do this any more. And I had a good opportunity to people watch. With my quick sketch tools.
Are you ready to get out in the world with some quick art tools? The better prepared you are to go, the more likely you will be to do so. Be prepared.
I'm a professional artist, retired director of a performing arts center, bona fide book addict, and enjoy the quiet life...most of the time. I'd love to hear from you or get your ideas for future posts. Come back soon!
my90acres 